Life Changes: 3 Surprising Ways to Know You're on the Right Path

Photo by Erika Cristina

____

​You’ve most likely heard of coincidences and may have had your own amazing experiences that have left you saying, ”How’d that happen?”

In the book When God Winks, author SQuire Rushnell describes these coincidences, or “God Winks,” as signposts. He also talks about how they often increase when you’re going through change.

While I’d been familiar with the concept and experienced my share of coincidences, I hadn’t been aware that their occurrence ramps up when you’re going through life changes to help you through them.

Here's my definition of coincidence:  A situation in which events happen at the same time in a way that isn’t planned or expected that brings about something wonderful in your life.
​


A Personal Story Example 

Being at yet another crossroads, I felt exiled through an unwanted and undeserved (from my limited viewpoint) tsunami of change.

Gradually emerging from quicksand-like grief triggered by those losses, I’d faced the pain head-on and hoped I’d managed to pull out every ounce of life lesson I could.

Then began the massive task of how and what to do with what was left of my life. An overwhelming To Do list defined days as I kept working to figure out which way to go.

About the only thing that became clear was that trying to grab some kind, any kind of lifeline from the past wasn’t going to work. 


Coincidences in your life often increase when you're going through change.
______

Reaching the point that losing myself in a grocery store rag mag seemed like a worthwhile use of time, I finally sat – just sat.

Eventually quieting mind chatter down a few decibels, I asked my inner Self for guidance about what to do next. And hoped I was heard. And that my thoughts wouldn’t fling themselves in five thousand directions before an answer came.

Frustrated and scared, I was open to listening.


A Message
​ 
When I eventually heard (on an inner level) “empty yourself of your personal agenda,” at first there was relief. Then the feeling that I was hurling myself over a cliff into an overwhelming cloud of nothingness. 

Then the thoughts, “Uh, exactly how does this translate into everyday life?”

And then doubt. Did I hear that right? Really?

Photo by Duong Nhan

Quiet time in the woods would help process the message. Thinking about a handful of possible places to walk, one destination felt right.


The Coincidence
​ 
A rustic path wound through ravines and acres of primeval beech trees that were naked in mid-December light. Rounding a turn, I saw a tiny red spot in the distance somewhat veiled by leafless saplings that lined the forest floor. 

Moving closer, I realized a bright red holiday ornament was hanging from one of the spindly branches! Huh? As I continued walking, there was another, another, then several others marking a path that led out of the woods.

I’d walked that path in different seasons for years, never having seen anything other than, uhmm, trees. 

I gradually became aware that this was a charming signpost, a “God Wink” showing that with the guidance received (even if I didn’t know what the next steps would be or where they were leading), I was somehow heading in the right direction.

______


​3 Ways to Read the Signs

These suggestions are gathered from personal experiences:
​ 
1. Coincidences or “God Winks” act as signposts to help you know you’re on track with your life path and purpose — even though you may be experiencing confusion and a lot of unknowns.

​Having the thought to go to the woods with the beech trees and then seeing the red ornaments are examples of signposts.

They don’t necessarily give you all the answers to whatever challenge you may be facing (although in some instances certainly can). I like to think of them as lovely pointers, a connect-the-dots reassurance that helps soothe and direct.


​
2. Remembering coincidences you’ve experienced in the past can help you be on the lookout for new signposts as they appear in your life.

Exercise: Can you remember a coincidence (could be someone you met, something you heard, saw, or felt) that helped you through a life change?
​
Writing it down will help you anchor it into your memory. This dials in your coincidence radar.



3. Opening your awareness to these little miracles helps you know you’re right where you need to be.

You can open your awareness by taking some quiet time to reflect on your day. Coincidences and signposts can be subtle, obvious, or anywhere in between. 

​• Did anything unusual happen in your life today? 

​• Did you happen to turn on the radio and hear something, did someone say something, did you see or notice something that was significant to you? 

The amazing thing is that coincidences are custom-made just for you! 
​

Photo by Th G

Life changes aren’t always easy. Increasing your awareness so you can recognize the coincidences that act as signposts in your life can help you know you're heading in the right direction. 
​
​

​To Beautiful Signposts Lighting Your Way!